Tulare County Teen Killed in Shooting and Crash

FRESNO – Police learned that what appeared to be a regular car accident turned out to be a shooting that left one teenager dead.

Investigators found a turned over SUV on the evening of July 24 on Road 156 and Avenue 362 near Ivanhoe. The SUV had rolled over several times and came to a stop in a drainage ditch. The incident was initially reported as a crash.

County fire personnel investigated the accident and discovered the body of 18-year-old Cruz Medina at the bottom of the ditch, partly ejected from the vehicle. Two other victims, 26-year-old Joel Guzman and 19-year-old Gerardo Rodriguez, were sitting and standing outside of the car, respectively.

Gang Shooting

Medina was dead on the scene and officials discovered that Guzman was suffering from a gunshot wound. Medina apparently had gunshot wounds as well. Investigators said it is unclear at this point whether Medina died from the gun shots or from the accident. Officials will know for sure after the autopsy is completed.

The Tulare County Sheriff’s Department took over the investigation and learned that someone fired shots at the three men as they drove through the area. Detectives have not said who was driving the SUV or who took the shots at the three men.

Detectives are trying to determine if the shooting caused the accident. They are also working with the department’s gang unit to figure out if the shooting may have been gang related, according to Chris Douglass with the sheriff’s department.

Rodriguez was treated for minor injuries at the hospital and released. Although Guzman was shot, his injuries were not considered life threatening.

Read More:

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